Reach-coupling for running-gears.



APPLIOATION FILED IAE. 30, 1907.

PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

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G. W. LOEFFLER. REACH COUPLING FOR RUNNING GEARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30. 1907.

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GUSTAV W. LOEFFLER,OF TAMPA, FLORIDA.

RE ACH-COUPLIN G FOR RUNNING-GE ARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented NOV. 19, 1907.

Application filed March 30. 1907. Serial No. 365A71.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, GUSTAV W. Lonrrrnn, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Tampa, in the county of Hillsboro and State ofFlorida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inReach-Couplers for Running-Ge ars, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in running gear for vehicles andmore particularly to the reach coupling means.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and efficientmeans of coupling the reach and running gear and is designed as animprovement on the gear shown in my patent granted Feb. 16, 1892 No.469,155.

My invention consists in certain novel features of construction,arrangement and com bination of parts as will be hereinafter fullydescribed and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view partly insectionof a running gear embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is aperspective of the front axle, bolster and attachments. Fig. 3 .1s asectionalv elevation of the same. Fig. 4

is a bottom plan view of same. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view takenon line 55 of Fig. 1.

The front axle A, rear axle B and reach C and bolsters D, D may be ingeneral respects of ordinary construction.

The reach rests just in the rear of the front bolster and extendsrearwardly through the rear bolster D in the usual manner.

E represents the upper circle iron of the fifth wheel member beingfastened to the underside of the bolster D by the bolts a. This ironwhich is broadened at E passes beneath the reach 0 to the rear of thefront axle and is held u to said reach by the strap iron F bent to fitover the reach and bolted at its ends to the upper face of the fifthwheel iron verge from the point G and near their ends are bent to avertical position at G", the extreme ends bent to form the feet G whichare bolted against the rear vertical face of the front bolster D. At thebend of the brace iron it is bolted to a strap iron H similar to strapF, said strap iron H fitting over the reach and its ends being bolted tothe lugs e, c of extension placed beneath the reach; the bolt h whichfastens the brace to the strap iron H passes through the said brace andthe strap iron, its head being set countersunk under the strap iron anda nut screwed on its upper end. The upper circle iron E rests and playson the lower fifth wheel circle iron I which is secured to the upperface of the front axle by clips J.

To the front vertical face of the rear axle B are attached the ends ofthe rear hounds K which are fastened to said axle by the feet It, whichrest against said axle; these hounds are attached to axle near its outerends but inside the spindles which receive the hubs of the wheels, andthen project forwardly and inwardly at an angle and have the frontstraight extensions It, k which lie against the vertical side faces ofthe reach 0. These hounds are made in the form of angle bars being madeof iron or steel, the horizontal webs 7c of which are at their frontends pierced to permit the passage of bolts which pass through the endsof a flat bar L placed on top of the reach. A cotter pin Z also passesthrough this bar, and through the reach and also through a bent strapiron M fitting up against the lower face of the reach and into the angleof the hounds, thus holding these several parts together.

To the underside of the upper fifth wheel member is secured the bentstrap, N, within the bent portion of which the lower fifth wheel circleiron I is free to move. The rear end of strap iron is bolted to the rearextension E by the same belt which fastens the rear end of brace O whichis bent and extends to beneath the front axle where it is held by theking-bolt P and nut p on the lower end of same.

I claim- 1. In a vehicle running gear the combination of the front axle,front and rear bolsters and reach pole, upper and lower fifth wheelirons, the upper fifth wheel iron having a rear extension beneath thereach, a strap iron surrounding the reach and secured to the rearextension of the upper fifth wheel iron, a strap secured to the upperfifth wheel circle iron, and to the reach, and a V shaped brace securedat its apex to the rear strap iron, and at its free ends to the frontbolster.

2. In a vehicle running gear the combination of the front axle, frontand rear bolsters, and reach pole, upper and lower fifth wheel circleirons, the upper circle iron having a rear extension fitting beneath thereach pole, a strap iron fitting over the reach pole and secured to therear extension of the upper circle iron, a bent strap iron secured atits forward end to the upper circle iron, a curved brace rod secured atits rear end to the bent strap iron and the upper circle iron, and atits front end to the front axle by a king bolt.

3. In a vehicle running gear the combination of front and rear axles,front and rear bolsters, and a reach pole, upper and lower fifth wheelcircle irons, the up er iron secured to the front bolster an the lowercircle iron secured to the front axle, the upper circle having a centralenlargement and an integral rear extension fitting beneath the reachpole, said rear extension having laterally rojecting lugs, a front strapiron inclosing t e reach pole and secured to the upper circle iron, abent strap secured to the under face of the upper circle iron andprovided with a central channel, the lower fifth wheel the upper circleiron, and V shaped brace secured at its apex to the rear strap iron, andat its front ends to the front bolster, and a pin passing through thefront strap iron and upper circle iron.

' 4. 1n a vehicle running gear the combination of front and rear axles,front and rear bolsters, and a reach pole, angle iron rear ,hounds, theforward ends of which are bent to form forward projections, abutting thesides of the reach, a plate secured to the upper horizontal web of theangle iron hounds, a bent strap platefitting beneath the reach and intothe angle of the angle iron hounds at their forward extensions, and apin passing through the upper-plate, reach and lower bent strap iron. 7V

GUSTAV W. LOEFFLER.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK J. CUsHrNG, EDWIN R. DIOKENSON.

